Verified by Visa

update:2009-04-20

Verified by Visa protects consumers and merchants online at World Wide Web (WWW). For more than thirty years, Visa has set industry standards for secure payments between consumers and merchants. Verified by Visa protects online merchants and customers alike.

1. How to sign up?

Select your country to see which organisations (banks or financial bodies) already offer Verified by Visa.

If your Visa card is issued by one of them, you may be able to sign up for the service right now.
If you don't see the bank or organisation below, please contact them directly.

When you have signed up, you are ready to shop with confidence at any online retailer that is using Verified by Visa.

Protecting consumers and merchants online
For more than thirty years, Visa has set industry standards for secure payments between consumers and merchants. Verified by Visa protects online customers. With Verified by Visa, consumers benefit from:

How customers are protected?
A new level of confidence when they shop online: At checkout, software installed on the merchant server recognizes the Visa card and prompts a password entry field to appear. Consumers enter their Verified by Visa password, the password is verified and the transaction completes.

No special software or digital wallet required: Unlike other services that promise online security, with Verified by Visa, shoppers don’t have to load special software or open a digital wallet. A seamless customer shopping experience is maintained.

Added safety and protection: Verified by Visa meets key consumer concerns regarding safety and protection, which are important factors in a consumer’s choice of where to shop online*.

Verified by Visa protects online merchants in the following ways:
You are not liable for fraud resulting from the unauthorized use of Visa cards.
Fraud on your site is reduced. Your customers enjoy a safer place to shop.
Transaction discount fees are lower in many cases.

How merchants are protected?
Verified by Visa can provide merchants with significant savings in fraud-related costs. Merchants who use Verified by Visa are protected from fraud-related chargebacks on all personal Visa cards—credit or debit, domestic, or international—whether or not the issuer or cardholder is participating in Verified by Visa, with limited exceptions. Find out how merchants have successfully implemented Verified by Visa. View case studies.

Can I register with my existing Visa card or do I need to apply for a new one?
You can register any Visa card to be protected by Verified by Visa as long as your card issuer offers this service. To find out if your card issuer participates and activate your card for Verified by Visa now, click here.

Can I register more than one Visa card?
Yes, you need to register all of your Visa cards as long as your Visa card issuer offers Verified by Visa.

How do I register my Visa card? Click here to go to your issuer to find out how to register your Visa card for Verified by Visa

My spouse and I both have the same card number. How does Verified by Visa work for the two of us?
Verified by Visa still works for both of you. You'll each register and create your own password. Please note that once a Visa account is registered with Verified by Visa, all cardholders will need to register and create their own passwords to shop at participating online stores.

Can I register my non-Visa payment cards with Verified by Visa?
Currently, Verified by Visa is only offered to protect Visa cards, contact your card issuer to see whether they offer something similar for other payment brands.

After I register, how long does it take for Verified by Visa to become active for my card?
The added protection of Verified by Visa is available as soon as your card issuer confirms that your registration is successful. With many issuers, this is done instantly while you are in the process of shopping so you can benefit from the security of Verified by Visa immediately.

Once I have registered, how do I use Verified by Visa when I shop online?
You'll find all the details on how to use Verified by Visa when shopping online at the Verified by Visa online shopping demo. To view this, you require Macromedia Flash player.

Do I need any special equipment or software on my computer? No. All you need is an Internet connection and Internet Explorer, Netscape or AOL browser software version 4.0 or above. To find out if your browser is compatible, go to the "Help" menu on the upper right-hand side of your browser and select the "About" option. It should tell you what version is installed on your computer.

Can I use Verified by Visa from any computer?
You can use Verified by Visa at any PC that has an Internet connection and Internet Explorer, Netscape or AOL browser software version 4.0 or above.

What is a Personal Assurance Message or Personal Message? When you register for Verified by Visa, your issuer may ask you to create a Personal Assurance Message or Personal Message. When you pay online, always look for this Personal Assurance Message or Personal Message – it is your assurance that it is your card issuer that is authenticating you.

I have Internet access on my mobile phone, can I use Verified by Visa through it? While Verified by Visa can be used over mobile devices with connections to the Internet, only some Visa card issuers are offering this service. Please check directly with your Visa card issuer.

Where can I shop with Verified by Visa?
Look for the Verified by Visa mark on participating online stores or check the list of current merchants by clicking here.

How will the online store know that I have Verified by Visa? Participating online stores will automatically recognize your Visa card number if you have registered it for Verified by Visa.

What if I forget my password?
If you forget your password, you should contact your card issuer customer service to re-set your password. Check with your Visa card issuer for details.

If I suspect someone has stolen my password or used it to make fraudulent purchases, what should I do?
Contact your Visa card issuer immediately.

Can I get the benefit of Verified by Visa security at online stores that are not participating in the service?
No. However more and more online stores are offering Verified by Visa. In the meantime, if an online store you trust is not yet participating, use common sense and follow our shopping tips.